Scamming the wrong person, baby…

[erastes]

Just had some guy ring me and say "Oh hello, I'm ringing to refund you some money"

Me: Instantly suspicious "Oh really?"

Him: "Yes, you took a loan out a few years ago?"

Me: "No."

Him. Obviously baffled (who doesn't take out loans?) "Are you sure?"

Me: Yep.

*hangs up*

God, people are swines, aren't they? I know 99.99 of people won't fall for this, but some people would. I'm just glad that Dad isn't on the ball enough to give anyone his account details.

Comments

[eglantine-br.livejournal.com]

My mother (who was then about 85,) once bought an in-ground swimming pool, with the attendant installation and misery, from a door-knocking salesman. It ended up ruining the value of her house, at a time when she really needed to sell the house for money.

Also it turned out that the swimming pool was stolen. (Imagine a warehouse full of stolen swimming pools.)

Makes me furious.

These people do target our old parents. Glad the got you by mistake!

[erastes.livejournal.com]

good lord - stolen pools! that's horrific and funny at the same time. I'm so sorry that happened to her.

[cerisaye.livejournal.com]

Could've been a speculative call about those refunds for payment protection insurance premiums being forced upon our beloved banks, I suppose.

[erastes.livejournal.com]

Nah. it was "we do not have the number to return the call" and he didn't know my name or anything about me. No company name, nothing. Just a blooming chancer.

[aunty_marion]

I keep getting the ones wanting to pay me for the claim on insurance for the car accident I had recently. Er, no.

[stevie-carroll.livejournal.com]

I get those as texts to my Day Job mobile.

[baritonejeff.livejournal.com]

Yes, swines indeed. I am SO sick of people who 'make a living' through evil means, banking on the stupidity or sheer desperation of others, or both. Yes, swines. Swines and cowards.

Lock them all up in a room and turn on the gas.

[charliecochrane.livejournal.com]

Have you had the "Microsoft have reported your computer is slow" one?

The loans bit is interesting, though. We had to have an identity check recently for a Blackberry contract. She said, "I'll go into your credit history check and ask three questions"
Me: OK
Her (after pause): I can only find one. I'll have to check with my boss if that's OK.

We're too creditworthy!

[erastes.livejournal.com]

lol yes - i have one loan and that's the house. No credit cards nothing. I know that makes me almost invisible--in fact the post office turned me down for their broadband because i had no credit history!

[mysid.livejournal.com]

I get similar phone calls on a regular basis:
"Hello. This is Allied Interstate, and we're calling in regards to a debt," says the recording. Then it gives contact info so I can call them back and offer to throw money at them to resolve my fictitious debt.

I googled them, and the name Allied Interstate is a legitimate debt collection service, but it's also infamously used by telephone scammers.

[erastes.livejournal.com]

that's a point - anyone can say they are anyone on the phone!!!

[tim crowhurst (from livejournal.com)]

A very polite, albeit grammatically challenged, lady tried the marital equivalent of the Nigerian money swindle earlier today on a gay social website I use. It was fairly obvious they were unaware it was a gay website however, since they attempted the scam with lads rather than lasses. So one guy sent the lady in question a response thanking her for her interest and politely pointing out she "wasn't barking up the wrong tree so much as in the wrong bloody forest".

[erastes.livejournal.com]

heh - that's brilliant.I am stunned that anyone falls for these things, but obviously people must do, or no one would keep trying it!

[tim crowhurst (from livejournal.com)]

I think it's more a case of absolute desperation. This is especially true on the rare occasion that a gay person tries it, because you know that they're probably scared of losing their life.